John stephenson



No. 609,845. Patented Aug. 30, I898. J. STEPHENSON.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILERS.

(Applieatinn filed. Oct. 9, 1897.

(No Model.)

ut a I TTORNEYE NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN STEPHENSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF,-

AND GEORGE T. MCDONDLAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,845, dated August 30, 1898.

Application filed October 9, 1897. Serial No. 654,665. (N model.)

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use-.

ful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Boilers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to devices or apparatus for interiorly cleaning boilers, and it has special relation to an improved device for exteriorly cleaning the fines or tubes within the boiler.

Ordinarily in the processes of cleaning the exterior surface of boiler fiues or tubes the operator enters the boiler through the usual manhole and cleans the exterior surface of the tubes by hand. Aside from the laborious and expensive features of this method of cleaning it is practically impossible to effeotively reach by hand the top surfaces of the middle or inclosed sets of tubes, and effective cleaning of any other than the outside sets of tubes is therefore precluded.

The object of my invention and improvements is'to provide a simple mechanical apparatus by means of which the exterior surfaces, and particularly the top surface of all the tubes, may be automatically and thoroughly cleaned without occasion for the operator entering the boiler.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved device or apparatus of this character which will possess advantages in point of convenience, ease of operation, positive action, effectiveness, economy, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a boiler, showing my im proved cleaning device in position with relation to the fines. Fig. 2 is a detail side view, of the cleaning apparatus. Fig. 3 is a detail edge view. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4: 4, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a boiler having any ordinary or usual arrangement of longitudinally and horizontally-arranged tubes or fines a, the fiues being arranged in the usual horizontal and vertical series, as shown. At one end of the boiler, near the bottom, is provided a hand-hole a of any suitable or adapted construction, through which the cleaning apparatus is adapted to be inserted in preparation for the operation of cleaning.

My improved apparatus comprises a vertical tubular arm or pipe B, which is preferably flattened at its sides, as shownat b, to provide parallel fiat side planes, in which are formed a horizontal series of openings, as at 1), preferably three in number, said horizontal series of openings corresponding to the spaces between the horizontal series of boiler fines or tubes and being arranged above each other throughout the length of the tubular arm or pipe member B. The member B is adapted to project upwardly within and between the set of boiler fines or tubes, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, preferably in central rela tion thereto, and it is flattened, as hereinbefore set forth, to enable its convenient adj ustment in this position when the fines are arranged closely together, with but little intervening space. The parallel fiat or plane side faces of the member 13 are also'provided, so that the side openings 1) will be on the same horizontal plane, whereby the jets of water from the same will be in a direct parallel line over and between the horizontal series of fines instead of in a radial directionjas would be the case if the set of horizontal jet-openings b were formed in a curved or cylindrical side of thepipe. The top end of the perforated pipe or member Bis closed and is preferably pointed, as shown at 19 to facilitate the introduction of the device between the fines.

The perforated pipe or member B is supported'on a step or foot 0 at itsbottom, which foot-piece rests upon the bottom of the shell of the boiler and is adapted to slide thereon during the movement of the apparatus in its operation.

Connected with the perforated pipe or member B is a horizontal pipe D, this connection being preferably formedby means of a coup ling, as shown at E, connecting the bottom of the member, the end of the feed-pipe D, and the foot or step 0.

The length of the feed-pipe D preferably corresponds to the intenior length of the boiler, and it is provided at its outer end with a suitable coupling F, to which a hose G is connected in any desired manner. Inoperation the feed-pipe D will project through the hand-,'

hole a.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. When it is desired to clean the exterior surface of the boiler flues and tubes, and especially the top surface of the same, the apparatus is introduced within the boiler through the handhole into the position shown, when water under suitable pressure is fed through the hose G and feed-pipe D to the vertical perforated tubular arm or pipe 13 and passes laterally from the same through the side openings b in direct jets over and between the horizontal series of flues. The top surface of the flues is thus directly reached, and every part of their exterior surface will be thoroughly and efiectively cleansed. The apparatus may be slid longitudinally within the boiler upon the step or rest 0 to bring the jets into play upon the full length of the fines.

.It will be understood by manifest adaptation of the apparatus it may be effectively employed either in a vertical or horizontal position, according to the character of the boiler or the specific arrangement of the flues.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A boiler-cleaning apparatus, comprising 'a tubular arm or pipe provided with openings in its side walls and adapted to be operated between the boiler-flues, and feed devices connected with said perforated member, substan-.

tially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A boiler-cleaning apparatus, comprising a tubular arm or pipe having flat sides in which are formed jet-openings, said perforated member being adapted to be inserted and operated between the boiler-flues, and feed devices connected with said perforated member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A boiler-cleaning apparatus, comprising a tubular arm or pipe provided with openings in its side walls and adapted to be inserted and operated between the boiler-flues, a step or foot upon which said p'erforated'member is supported within the boiler, and feed devices connected with said perforated member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A boiler-cleaning apparatus, comprising a verticalarm or member having openings in its side walls, a horizontal feed-pipe connected with-said perforated member at its bottom, and the bottom foot or step forming a rest for the apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A boiler-cleaning apparatus, comprising the vertical tubular arm or pipe having fiattened sides in which are formed the series of perforations, the horizontal feed-pipe connected with said perforated member, and the foot or step forming a rest or support at the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a boiler-cleaning apparatus of the class described, a tubular arm or pipe having the series of openings in its side walls on the same plane, said separate series of openings being arranged one above the other, substantially as set forth, whereby when the perforated member is inserted and operated between the boiler-flues the jets from said openings will pass between the flues, and feed devices connected with said perforated member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a boiler-cleaning apparatus of the class described, the vertical tubular arm or pipe having flattened sides in which are formed the horizontal series of jet-openings, said horizontal series being arranged respectively one above the other, whereby when the perforated member is inserted and operated between the flues the jets from the openings will pass in a direct line between the flues, and feed devices connected with said perforated member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of October, 1897.

JOHN STEPHENSON. Witnesses:

MIOHEAL M. BRENNAR, GEO. T. MCDONDLAND. 

